Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 95: what you’re looking at

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82 Macdonald was not so anxious as may appear, to enter into the accounts with me. He already knew, by the letters I had written him, the re- mittance of money I had made, and the invoices of goods I had sent, that the enterprises with which he had entrusted me had turned out most advan- tageous. Indeed, within a single twelvemonth I have not merely enabled him to realize enormous profits—but I have founded connexions, established agencies, and opened channels in the United States, which cannot fail to render the firm of Macdonald and Company”’—and here my cousin smiled sig- nificantiy—“ one of the richest and most prosper- ous in the world.” * Macdonald and Company ?” I said, half start- ing with the idea that somewhat unpleasantly struck me. ‘I did not know Mr. Macdonald had any partners P” “ Dearest Hllen,’”’ exclaimed Henry, seizing my hand and pressing it with rapture, “ I have glorious intelligence for you! I am Mr. Macdonald’s partner |” “Ah, my dear Henry,” I said, “most sincerely should I congratulate you, were it not that-——” “What, my dear Hilen ?” he said, starting with surprise; “is there any drawback to your joy at the announcement [ have made? No, no! there cannot be? Do you not remember when you were at Paisley, and when you were introduced to the Maedonalds, the worthy old gentleman made more than @ half-promise that if L were successful in the speculations then cormtemplated, he would make me his partner? And I Aave been successful,— far more successful than even big most sanguine hopes gould have led him to anticipate; so that with the zeal of a truthful man gud the readiness of a generous one, he hastened to meet me at Liverpool that his promise might be accomplished. It was for this that I tarried, Bilen—it was that the necessary papers and agreements might be signed: fur Qh! thought I to myself how proud should I be i announce, and how delighted would you be to hear, that i have thus attained an established position, and at the age of twenty-two have become the partner in one of the greatest mercantile houses of the North!” “Oh! no reward is too great, my dear Henry,” I exclaimed, “ for your honest industry—no recom- pense is too large, for the exertions you have made and the successes you have achieved on behalf of your patron! Receive, then, my warmest con- gratulations !” “Ah! now, dearest Ellen,” cried Henry joy- ously, “ you are speaking as I expected and hoped that you would speak: for, Oh! believe me, darling girl, that it was for your sake I have been enabled to do so much—for your sake likewise that I was so glad to receive the reward! And now, Ellen, there is naught to impede the accomplish- ment of our happiness; fur i shall enjoy an income that will maintain us hatidsomely—and you shall leave the stage, dear Hilen eo | ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. sideboard, I showed him the testimonial with the inscription upon it. “Oh! then you have really left the stage!” he cried; “and I rejoice! For though you have been an honour and an ornament to the stage, and have thereon won a glorious renown—and though, dearest Ellen, I have not the slightest lingering prejudice against it,—yet now that [ have by mine own industry obtained a good position, and ensured a competent income, I would not have you toil and waste your best years at 4 theatre *- “And this, my dear Henry,” I interrupted him, “is the very reason why f also would not have you toil and waste your own best years in a counting-house !—-and this also is why I perhaps for a moment just now seemed vexed at the idea that you should have accepted Mr. Macdonald’s offer to take you into partnership !” “Good heavens, my dear Hilen!” exclaimed Henry, “do you not comprehend that there is an immense difference hetwixt being a partner and a mere clerk or agent ?” * You need not be either, Henry,” I said, taking his hand and pressing it in my own; “and there- fore you may undo as soon ag possible whatsoever you have done with Mr. Macdonald in respect to the partnership. I will not keep you any longer in suspense, Henry! Read these papers—lI will return to you in a quarter of an hour.” Thus speaking, I handed my cousin a packet of papers; and I then hurried from the room. Those papers consisted of a copy of Mr, Gower’s will— the several letters which I had received from Mr, Wilkinson oe the progress of the business— and other letters fram Major Gower to Mr, Wil- kinson, and which I had requested the solicitor to give me. All these papers tended to show that there was nothing in the slightest degree suspi- cious agginst my own character in the bequest made by the late Mr. Guwer. If ia connexion with Henry i knew of any fault, it was that he had shown himself on one occasion too apt to judge by outward appearances and first impressions: and I fearéd that there might now possibly be a recur- rence of the same jealous suspicion. For this reason therefore I left him alone with all those documents, that he might obtain a full insight into the matter. I passed into another room; and there I beheld a scene which for an instant filled me with surprise. Beda was seated on the sola ; and a young man was kneeling at her feet. But the next instant I recognised her sailor-loyer, William Lardner, who had rendered me such spe- cial services in the affair of the yacht at Ramsgate, and who had subsequently proved so useful when Zarah was consigned by the treacheries of Hdwin St. Clair to a mad-house. William Lardner did not immediately perceive me—for indeed his back was towards me as he knelt before Beda. But Beda herself gave a sudden start—the rich blood mantled upon her counte- nance—and then Wiiliam sprang up to his feet. 1) “T have already left it, Henry,” I answered, | Beda bounded towards me; and taking my hand with a smile. she looked up into my face in so deprecating a © You have left it?” he ejaculated, with a look | manner, as if afraid that I should be very angry of mingled astonishment and joy. “ But when, | with her, that I could not help smiling as [ thought dear Ellen? for in the file of papers which I saw | to myself, “It is a strange coincidence that Beda's at Liverpool your name was mentioned at only a lover should return at the same moment as mine; | but it would be even still more remarkable if she “Look!” I said; and leading him towards the, had not the same right to receive a visit from >) recent date- GO (C (E (0) boo